Its like living in a furnace, he says.
Its terrible, believe me.
This years Locarno Film Festival is Nazzaros third edition as Artistic Director.
Giona A. Nazzaro.Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images.
The fest runs until Aug 12.
Locarno hosts an Official Competition, several sidebar sections, and an open-air screening program for local audiences.
Its still unclear whether Ahmed and Skarsgard will attend with the strike ongoing.
SAG regulations around appearances at festivals are complicated.
The rules forbid members from promoting any work completed for a struck company.
These parameters would, in theory, include career achievement awards where past struck work is discussed.
The festivals main International Competition will showcase 17 films this year, 16 of them world premieres.
DEADLINE: This is your third year as artistic director.
How are you feeling about your role?
GIONA A. NAZZARO:The stakes are the same.
But obviously, the film industry environment festivals, production, and distribution is still in turmoil.
Weve seen whats been happening since 2020.
And now the SAG strike.
These next few years will be when we redefine what the film industry is and can be.
I never remotely thought that after 2020 things would go back to normal.
All these questions also inevitably become a public discussion point.
DEADLINE: In the statement you released following the SAG vote, you said Locarno was monitoring the situation.
Just to confirm, is the festival still 100% going ahead?
NAZZARO:The festival is going ahead.
Behind the word entertainment there is work and labor this is crucial.
DEADLINE:Honorary awards are a central part of Locarnos program.
This year, Riz Ahmed was set to visit and receive an honor.
Are you still expecting him?
NAZZARO:We are still evaluating how the strike will affect attendance.
I hope that we can find an agreement or solution.
But that said, if we dont, we will still stand in solidarity with the SAG affiliates.
DEADLINE:Can you tell me a little about the opening film Falling Stars.
It seems to be very different from last years opener, Bullet Train.
NAZZARO:We fell in love withFalling Stars.
Last year, we opened withBullet Train, and this year I thought, lets go a different route.
I dont want people coming to Locarno and feeling like theyve figured out what we are doing.
The film is also incredibly funny and poignant.
Its a true work of art.
DEADLINE:Can you tell me a little about this years lineup?
There seems to be a lot of transgressive, politically engaged work here.
NAZZARO:We tried consciously to build a program that would reflect the possibilities of contemporary cinema.
That doesnt mean that we were simply thinking along the lines of eclecticism.
We have the new Lav Diaz, which is relatively short at three and a half hours.
I say that without irony.
Its a tremendously powerful, visually striking, poetic, and politically motivated film.
DEADLINE:Youve put together a very interesting jury this year.
Compared to the other members, Charlotte Wells is pretty new to the scene.
Why did you include her?
NAZZARO:First of all, I lovedAftersun.
Its one of those films I would have loved at Locarno.
She has an extremely keen eye, and I admire her editorial choices.
DEADLINE:Youve been working within the European festival circuit for some time now.
NAZZARO:Locarno is an independent festival.
Locarno is the expression and stronghold of independent creativity, but this is not something that Im boasting about.
This is something that has been carved in our history for 76 years.
Other festivals have different approaches for different reasons.
Im not saying we are better than others.
If these strikes continue, I hope the nuances between the two can be understood.
For example, an honorary award doesnt mean infringing on demands for fair pay.
If you have to promote a film, thats another factor.
I dont think this will be over soon.
I think this is just the beginning.
